Mother Accuses Deputy of Murder In Son's Death

VICTORVILLE (CBSLA.com) — The mother of a Barstow man is accusing a deputy of murder in the shooting death of Nathaniel Pickett Jr., 29.

According to his family, Pickett was mentally ill and unarmed when he was shot and killed by a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy in Barstow on Nov. 19. Video of the incident shows Pickett running from the deputy. Later, the deputy can be seen beating Pickett.

"I would like for the individual who murdered my son to be prosecuted," said Dominic Archibald, Pickett's mother. "As far as I know, he's never been placed on administrative leave."

Archibald claims her son committed no crime.

According to a Sheriff's Department statement, the deputy suffered broken bones after fighting with Pickett. The statement also said Pickett refused to comply with the deputy's commands.

Pickett's mother and her attorneys plan to meet Thursday with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, which is investigating the shooting.